I Had

“I Had” – a 60-second public service announcement (PSA) – was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in support of the Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign. The campaign raises awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. It encourages women to pay attention to their bodies and know what is normal for them, so they can recognize the warning signs of gynecologic cancers and seek medical care. The campaign's primary target audience is women ages 40-60 years.

This PSA offers “inside knowledge” about gynecologic cancer, and features several women who describe the warning signs and symptoms related to the five main gynecologic cancers. The PSA advises women to know what is normal for them, and if they think something is wrong, to see a doctor and ask about gynecologic cancer.

The CDC's approach to “I Had” is rooted in findings from research conducted in 2009 with women in 7 cities across the United States. In 48 focus groups with women aged 40-60, the CDC explored knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to gynecologic cancer and tested creative approaches to ensure effectiveness of campaign materials. This research demonstrated that misconceptions about gynecologic cancer were common, and that creative approaches using testimonials, woman-to-woman communication, and featuring women of diverse racial and ethnic groups were most appealing to the campaign's target audience. Accordingly, “I Had” utilizes an approach that exposes the audience to the varied list of gynecologic cancer symptoms in a simple, straightforward manner. In addition, the PSA features a diverse group of women sharing their experiences regarding their gynecologic cancer symptoms “woman-to-woman.”

“I Had” is available in 30- and 60-second lengths, and in English and Spanish. The 60-second PSA is available at http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/GYN_IHad/.